The shell that connect my city to Santiago de Compostela.

Tonight I want to tell you the story of the shell that connect my city (Pistoia, Italy) to Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

You have to know that here in Italy have its own Patron Saint and the Patron Saint of my city is San Jacopo (Saint James). We celebrate this Saint in July 25th and, because of this, in that day there are many events  along the streets and  also a beautiful historical parade in costume ^_^

San Jacopo started to be our Patron after the 890 d.C.. In that period the citizens were afraid to be invaded by the Saracen and so they prayed San Jacopo to protect them, because they remembered that the King Ramiro de Lion did the same before. The citizens prayed the Saint, our city was not invaded by the Saracen and to thanks the Saint they chose San Jacopo as Patron of the city. It was also built a Church dedicated to the Saint, so the citizens could thanks him again and again.

After some time, the Bishop Atto (he was the Bishop of my city) asked to the Bishp of Compostela to have a little part of the Saint's relic and so a little part of the head of the Saint (I know, this part of the story looks a little bit scary if the relics are not usual in your religion ^_^) was placed in a chapel here in the 1145.

That chapel become a pilgrimage for believers and many believers started their pilgrimage to Compostela starting from Pistoia. The celebration of the Saint every July 25th started in the 1170/1780 and the celebration was adopted by the Municipality and not only under the Bishop. So, that day become a day of celebration not just connected to the religion, but connected to our history.

I'll talk about the celebrations around the end of July, so I'll share the photos too!

Now I can explain the shell! 

The shell that you see in the pics is a Capasanta ( Pecten jacobaeus, also known as the Mediterranean scallop) and it's one of the symbol of the pilgrimage of Santiago. During the Middle Age the pilgrims use this shell like a cup to drink the water of the river along the walk.

I hope you liked this old story about my city ^_^

Good night to everyone and see ya soon!

Silvia